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'Karen Bondarchuk: Kith and Kin' on display at the Richmond Center

contact: Cara BarnesNovember 5, 2013 | WMU News

A piece from the exhibit "Karen Bondarchuk: Kith and Kin"

KALAMAZOO—Karen Bondarchuk, associate professor of art, will exhibit her work "Kith and Kin" at Western Michigan University's Netzorg and Kerr Gallery in the Richmond Center for Visual Arts through Friday, Nov. 15.

Bondarchuk's work has common thematic elements of animals and language, examining linguistic and physiological connections between animals and humans. Language plays a central role in the human-animal divide, often serving as the singular distinguishing trait that elevates "us" above "them." While scientific perspective on the nature and magnitude of animal consciousness is in flux, the most recent research suggests that animals are capable of higher order reasoning than previously understood or imagined. Bondarchuk explores the fraught boundary between human sentience and what we assume to be the limits of animal reasoning power.

Karen Bondarchuk

Bondarchuk, a native of Canada, received her M.F.A. in sculpture from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and her B.F.A. in sculpture and video from NSCAD University (formerly the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design). In addition to coordinating and teaching in the foundations area, she teaches drawing and sculpture courses at WMU.

Bondarchuk has exhibited and performed in the United States, Canada, Italy and England, and her work is in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Canada and numerous private collections.

Gallery hours

The Netzorg and Kerr Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.